Fuel reaction chambers



Jan. 20, 1959 D. F. WELCH ETAL FUEL REACTION CHAMBERS Filed Jan. 29, 1954 /N VA/7 096 .@0064 FRAM/A5 WEZ CH KENNETH HPR//VTO/k/@VDLL p V#2,369,521" p FUELQREACHQN "Douglas Francis Welch, jThurlaston, neariRugby, Yand Kenneth Barrington "Randall," z(-"Joventi'f'England, asgnors to "lf-he ritish'Thomson-HoustonCompany Limited;atBritishcompany` v i ,Appliauon January,z9,-1is4,lzsena1 1510-403123 Claims priority, application Greatl Britain i February 15, 11953 This invention `relates .to'ijayfuel-reaction vchamber for the decomposition of a monofuel.` Reactionchambers vof this'kindjhavebeen disclosed in United States application'SeriaVNo. 2191,618yvdated June 4, `1,9752 now Patent-No. 2,775','8f65,fissued January 1, 1957; V',Ithas further been shown in the kspecification ofjthe'above-noted application, thata substantially closed reaction chamber 4may be constructed having'an inletand 'an outlet nozzle, "self-sustained decomposition vof the monofuel', sprayed oxygen forits eventual decomposition.'

It is ,known that such reaction chambers will only permitself-sustained decomposition of a `monofuel to take place if the volume, `pressure and temperature ofthe chamber are carefully controlled and 'to this end an auxiliary chamber acting as a reaction chamber ofsmaller volume than the main' reaction chamber has been suggested.

lt is the object of the present invention to combine the function of a main and auxiliary chamber in one reaction chamber.

According to the invention, We provide a monofuel reaction chamber .having an inlet supply nozzle yadapted to be coupled to an inlet fuel supply and lan exhaust valve associated with an exhaust nozzle leading to a utilization device, the inlet fuel supply being provided with control means coupled to the exhaust 'valve and responsive to its movement, opening of the said exhaust valve being utilized to increase the fuel supply to the monofuel inlet nozzle.

Such a reaction chamber is arranged to provide two distinct functions Within itself.

(l) that of an auxiliary chamber in which self-sustained decomposition of a monofuel supply is adapted to occur,

(Il) that of a main chamber in which an increased flow of monofuel is decomposed by the conditions previously existing in the auxiliary chamber, the main chamber being now in communication with an exhaust nozzle to a utilization device.

According to another aspect of the invention We provide a substantially closed reaction chamber having an inlet nozzle for monofuel, a heating clement and an exhaust valve, the reaction chamber being used initially as an auxiliary reaction chamber in which self-sustained decomposition of the monofuel is adapted to oc-cur, the generation of pressure owing to the said decomposition of the monofuel being made to operate the said exhaust valve, which provides access to an exhaust nozzle and is associated with means to increase the supply of monofuel to the reaction chamber which now operates as a main reaction chamber.

United State-S Patent@ YZ In carrying theinventioninto' effect, the reaction chamber understarting conditions `has a predeterminedlow rateof-ilow of atomized monofuel' on toa heater (as fin the auxiliary chamber suggested Vin the priorl art)` and a very small or no exhaust nozzle. When self-sustained decomposition Vof the -monofuel occurs, pressure is lgenbetween the said springloaded exhaust valve and a control means in the monofuel supply pipe to the reaction chamber. Alternatively, a separate pressure operated means maybe arranged to increase the monofuel flow progressively to a-maximum value determined by the flow of working'iluid required and the consequent size of the i:eaction chamber. Again,it is envisaged that the ymono- 25 fuel `flow maybe accurately controlled on a time basis by utilizing a time operated fuel-how valve.

The invention will be vmore ,clearly appreciated from the following description with reference to the ligure of -the accompanying drawing whichshows a reaction cham- `ber in sectional elevation.

Referring now specifically to the ligure of the drawing, a substantially closed reaction chamber-10 is provided with a heater u11 and an inlet nozzle 12, which atomizes monofuel fed from the supply pipe 13 Vand is arranged to direct Va stream of atomized fuel from the nozzle 12 towards the heater 11, las shown b y dot-dash lines 20 in the drawing. A spring loaded exhaust valve 15 is provided in the upper wall of the reaction chamber and this operates inthe direction of the arrows A'to open or close an orifice 15a giving access to an exhaust conduit or duct 16 which communicates with a main exhaust nozzle 17 to a utilization device. Attached to the stem 15b of the exhaust valve, spring loaded at 15e, is a link mechanism 18, which is mechanically connected to a fuel supply valve 19 such as a butteriiy valve situated in the supply pipe 13. A manually controlled valve 19 is provided in fuel supply pipe 13. The link mechanism 18 consists of a link 21 pivotally connected at one end to the stern 15b of the exhaust valve 15, and pivotally mounted intermediate its ends at 22 on a fixed support 23. The other end of link 2l is pivotally connected with the operating arm 24 of the buttery valve 19. The operation of the reaction chamber is as follows: the heater 1l is switched on and brought to the requisite temperature, mon-Ofuel is then supplied to the reaction chamber l@ by opening the manually controlled valve 19 in the fuel supply pipe 13, via inlet nozzle 12. Valve 15 being closed on its seating by spring 15C, decomposition of monofuel takes place in the reaction chamber which is now operating as an auxiliary chamber. An auxiliary exhaust nozzle i4 may be used to permit a small continuous supply of decomposed fuel to enter the duct 16. Thus, as decomposition with an initial low rate of fuel supply occurs, the fuel supply valve 19 being initially adjusted to a minimum open position, pressure is built up Within the auxiliary reaction chamber to open exhaust valve 15. This increases the exhaust aperture through orifice 15a, and with the movement of the valve 1S, the fuel supply valve 19 is arranged to increase the fuel supply through pipe 13 and inlet nozzle 12 which in turn increases the pressure in the chamber 1G. The increased fuel supply will be decomposed owing to the conditions existing in the chamber and the chamber will now behave as a main reaction chamber, decomposed lfuel being fed directly t-o the exhaust nozzle 17, via the 'mitted to the reaction chamber 10. VThe reaction can be .stopped by closing a manually controlled valve 25 in fuel supply pipe 13.

What we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is: Y

1.l Apparatus for the production of a ow of gaseous working fluid for a prime mover by the decomposition of a monofuel comprising a reaction chamber, heating means in said chamber, a Isource of monofuel, a monO- fuel inlet supply conduit leading into said chamber from said source, an exhaust conduit leading from said chamber, exhaust valve means located in said exhaust conduit, means biasing said exhaust valve means toward closed position, said exhaust valve means being opened in response to predetermined fluid pressure developed in said reaction chamber by decomposition of monofuel supplied thereto, a fuel supply regulating valve in said inlet supply conduit, and means connecting said exhaust valve means to said fuel supply regulating valve to open said latter valve responsive to opening of said exhaust valve means, whereby to increase the supply of monofuel to said chamber when said exhaust valve means opens in response to the attainment of the predetermined pressure therein.

2. Apparatus for the production of a ow of gaseous working uid for a prime mover by the decomposition of a monofuel comprising a reaction chamber, heating means in said chamber, a source of monofuel, a monofuel inlet supply conduit leading into said chamber from said source, a fuel inlet nozzle terminating said inlet supply conduit and located to direct a stream of atomised fuel from said inlet nozzle towards said heating means, an

exhaust conduit leading from said chamber, exhaust valve means located in said exhaust conduit, means biasing said exhuast valve means toward closed position for closing said exhaust conduit, said exhaust valve means being opened in response to predetermined uid pressure developed in said reaction chamber by decomposition of monofuel supplied thereto, a monofuel supply regulating valve in said inlet supply conduit, and means connecting said exhaust valve means to said monofuel supply regulating valve to open said latter valve responsive to opening of said exhaust valve means whereby to effect an increase in the supply of monofuel to said chamber when said exhaust valve means `Opens in response to the attainment of the predetermined pressure therein.

3. Apparatus for the production of a fiow of gaseous working fluid according to claim 2 having an auxiliary exhaust nozzle of restricted area by-passing said exhaust valve means for permitting gaseous products of combustion of said monofuel to flow into said exhaust conduit.

4. Apparatus for producing a ow of gaseous working iluid according'toclaim 3 in which said fuel inlet nozzle and said exhaust valve means are located adjacent one another in one wall of said chamber.

5. Apparatus for the production of the ow of gaseous working Huid according to claim 2 having an auxiliary exhaust nozzle in said exhaust conduit.

'6. Apparatus for producing a ow of gaseous working uid for a prime mover by the decomposition of a monofuel comprising a reaction chamber, a source of monofuel, a monofuel inlet supply conduit leading to said chamber from said source, an exhaust conduit leading from said chamber, exhaust valve means biased to the closed position for closing said exhaust conduit, said ex haust valve means being adapted to be opened in response to a predetermined fluid pressure developed in said reaction chamber by decomposition of monofuel supplied thereto, means for initiating decomposition of monofuel Y supplied to said reaction chamber, a fuel supply regulating valve in said inlet supply conduit, and a mechanical linkage connecting said exhaust valve means to said fuel supply regulating valve to open said latter valve responsive to opening of said exhaust valve means whereby to control the supply of monofuel to said chamber in dependence on the pressure developed therein to increase the supply of monofuel when said exhaust valve means opens in response to the attainment of the predetermined pressure in said chamber.' l

7. Apparatus for the production of a flow of gaseous working fluid according to claim 6in which said means for initiating decomposition of monofuel supplied to said `reaction chamber comprlsesvan electrical resistance heater 2,154,572 Lansing Apr. 18,' 1939 2,221,185 Farlow Nov. 12, 1940 2,545,815 Klinge Mar. 20, 1951 2,648,190 Maisner Aug. 11, 1953 

